Calumet Photographic Gmbh

What Calumet Photographic Gmbh does

Calumet Photographic GmbH, doing business as Calumet Photo Video, is a German specialty retailer of photographic and video equipment headquartered in Hamburg. The company operates an omnichannel model combining 13 physical retail locations across major German cities (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, and others) with a national e-commerce platform at calumet.de. It carries 30+ premium and mainstream camera brands including Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leica, Panasonic, OM System, Profoto, Tamron, and Sigma, spanning categories from cameras and lenses to video/drones, lighting/studio, tripods/gimbals, bags, and image editing peripherals.

The business operates across eight revenue streams: new equipment sales, certified second-hand sales (with condition grading, 12-month warranty, and 30-day returns), trade-in acquisition (with 5–10% bonus), short-term equipment rental, repair and sensor cleaning, workshops and online webinars, photo printing (via fotoservice.calumet.de), and consumer/business financing through Targobank, ALBIS Leasing, and DLL. Distribution is supported by an integrated e-commerce stack including Cloudflare CDN, Algolia search, Bloomreach personalization, Adyen and PayPal payment processing, DHL/UPS shipping, Freshdesk customer service tooling, and Usercentrics GDPR compliance—plus an AWIN affiliate channel and AWIN/Google/Meta paid acquisition. The second-hand platform is built on the Thingsy AG (Loopia) resale portal.

Calumet serves four primary customer segments: professional photographers and videographers, enthusiast/hobbyist photographers, beginner/amateur photographers, and B2B customers (media companies, studios, agencies). The company is privately held (legal entity Calumet Photo Video GmbH), with no publicly disclosed parent, investors, or funding rounds. Pricing spans from approximately €59 for accessories to over €5,990 for flagship cameras, with promotional cashback offers up to €1,100, bundled discounts up to €800, and free shipping over €39. No revenue, headcount, or founding date is publicly disclosed in the available source data beyond the firmographic indication of 1939.

Name

Calumet Photographic Gmbh

Legal name

Calumet Photo Video GmbH

Website

https://calumet.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Calumet Photo Video is a German specialty retailer of photographic and video equipment, operating 13 retail stores nationwide alongside the calumet.de e-commerce platform, serving professional and enthusiast photographers and videographers with new and certified second-hand gear, trade-in, rental, repair, and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photographic and video equipment retail

SIC

Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)

akta.pro primary industry

Camera & Lens Retail (Photo Cameras, Lenses & Optical Accessories) (CRACAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Used & Refurbished Photo/Video Gear Retail (CRACAHAK), Video Camera & Production Gear Retail (Camcorders, Cinema Cameras, Rigs) (CRACAHAB), Binoculars, Scopes & Sport Optics Retail (CRACAHAI)

Keywords

• Photographic equipment retail
• Camera and lens sales
• Video production gear
• Studio lighting equipment
• Used camera trade-in

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. New Equipment Sales: Retail sales of cameras, lenses, video equipment, lighting, accessories, and bags from major brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Leica, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, and Profoto
2. Second-Hand/Used Equipment: Certified pre-owned equipment sales with condition grading (Wie neu, Sehr gut, Gut, Akzeptabel, Stark gebraucht), 12-month warranty with 6-month guarantee, and 30-day return policy
3. Trade-In/Upgrade Service: Trade-in program allowing customers to exchange used equipment for cash or credit toward new purchases, with 5% trade-in bonus offered
4. Equipment Rental: Short-term rental of photographic equipment through the Rent service
5. Repair Services: Sensor cleaning, general repairs, and warranty/guarantee service for purchased equipment
6. Workshops and Training: Photography and videography seminars, workshops, and coaching sessions at 13 German locations plus online webinars
7. Photo Services: Photo printing and processing services through fotoservice.calumet.de
8. Financing Services: 0% financing and leasing options for equipment purchases through Targobank, ALBIS Leasing, and DLL

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Calumet Photo Video is a German specialist retailer that sells new and certified second-hand cameras, lenses, video and drone equipment, lighting and studio gear, tripods, gimbals, camera bags, image editing peripherals, and binoculars from more than 30 premium brands. Beyond product sales, the company operates equipment rental, professional repair and sensor cleaning, photo printing, in-person workshops and webinars, studio rental, trade-in, and 0% financing services through both a national e-commerce site and 13 physical stores across Germany.

Product overview

Calumet Photo Video is a specialized photography and videography equipment retailer operating in Germany with 13 physical stores. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio organized as a multi-category retail platform. Core offerings include new cameras (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leica, Panasonic, OM System) and lenses, complemented by video equipment, drones, tripods/gimbals, lighting and studio equipment, and image editing peripherals. The Second Hand division provides certified pre-owned equipment with warranty. Service offerings are extensive, including equipment rental, repair services, sensor cleaning, photo printing, photography workshops, and studio rental. The company operates both e-commerce (calumet.de) and physical retail presence, supported by trade-in programs and 0% financing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Cameras
• Lenses
• Video and Drone Equipment
• Tripods and Gimbals
• Camera Bags
• Lighting and Studio Equipment
• Image Editing Products
• Binoculars and Optics
• Second-Hand Certified Equipment
• Trade-In Service
• Equipment Rental
• Repair Services
• Sensor Cleaning Service
• Photo Printing Service
• Photography Workshops
• Studio Rental (Munich)
• 0% Financing
• B2B Business Customer Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 52% savings on used equipment compared to new
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ScaleCommerce GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationServer hosting and e-commerce infrastructure provider for www.calumet.de
• Hetzner online GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationServer hosting provider for the Calumet e-commerce platform
• Cloudflare Germany GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationContent delivery network and security services for website performance and protection
• Ecwid, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides photo service platform infrastructure for fotoservice.calumet.de
• PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et CiecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing service enabling secure PayPal transactions
• Adyen N.V.coreTechnology or IntegrationPayment gateway supporting credit card transactions and other payment methods
• DHL Paket GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary shipping and delivery partner for domestic German shipments
• UPS Deutschland GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlternative shipping provider for domestic and international deliveries
• Bloomreach B.V.coreTechnology or IntegrationPersonalized marketing automation and newsletter campaign platform
• Algolia SAScoreTechnology or IntegrationSite search and discovery service with event tracking and personalization capabilities
• AWIN AGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate marketing network for partner referrals and commission-based marketing
• Thingsy AG (Loopia)coreTechnology or IntegrationResale portal platform for second-hand equipment trade-in and sales
• SCHUFA Holding AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit check and identity verification services for invoice and direct debit purchases
• Freshworks GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCustomer service and support ticketing system (Freshdesk) for managing customer inquiries
• Usercentrics GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCookie consent management platform for GDPR compliance
• Meta Platforms (Facebook/Instagram)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial media marketing presence and Facebook Pixel tracking for advertising
• Google Ireland LimitedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle Ads, Google Analytics, Google Maps integration, and YouTube presence for marketing and analytics

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Saturn: German consumer electronics big-box retailer (sister brand to MediaMarkt under MediaMarktSaturn) with nationwide stores and online. Competes with Calumet on entry- to mid-tier cameras and accessories but lacks the depth, expert services, and used-gear infrastructure of a specialist photo retailer.
• MediaMarkt: Germany's largest consumer electronics big-box retailer with extensive nationwide footprint and online store. Sells cameras, lenses, and accessories alongside broader electronics, but does not specialize in pro/enthusiast photo equipment, expert consultation, or trade-in services to the same depth as Calumet.

Direct peers

• Wex Photo Video: UK-based specialty photo and video equipment retailer resulting from the merger of Wex Photographic and Calumet UK. Operates online and physical stores; directly comparable to Calumet Germany in product range, OEM brand partnerships, and customer segments.
• B&H Photo Video: Largest US specialty photo/video equipment retailer with extensive online catalog and a flagship NYC superstore. Directly comparable business model: omnichannel retail of cameras, lenses, lighting, video gear, drones, and accessories targeting professional and enthusiast photographers and videographers.
• Foto Erhardt: German specialty retailer of photo and video equipment with both online store and physical retail locations. Directly competes with Calumet in the German market on cameras, lenses, accessories, and premium brands like Canon, Nikon, and Sony.
• Adorama: US-based specialty photo, video, audio, and electronics retailer operating online and through a NYC retail store. Strong direct peer to Calumet across cameras, lenses, video equipment, lighting, used gear, rental, and trade-in programs targeting the same professional and enthusiast customer base.
• Foto Koch: German specialty photo and video equipment retailer with multiple physical stores and online commerce. Closest direct German competitor to Calumet — same product categories (cameras, lenses, lighting), same customer segments (professional and enthusiast photographers), and same OEM brand portfolio.

Others

• CEWE: German market leader in photofinishing (photo books, prints, gifts) and related imaging services. Overlaps with Calumet's photo printing and gift product services (fotoservice.calumet.de) rather than equipment retail; an adjacent peer in German photo-services ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• MPB: UK-based specialist platform for buying, selling, and trading used photo and video equipment. Overlaps directly with Calumet's certified second-hand and trade-in programs (up to 52% savings, condition grading, warranties), representing both a competitor in resale and a potential partner.

Regional players

• CameraNU: Dutch online specialty photo and video equipment retailer operating across the Netherlands and Benelux region. Comparable business model to Calumet's e-commerce side but with regional rather than national store presence; serves a neighboring market without direct overlap in Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calumetphotode
• Facebookfacebook.com/CalumetPhotoDeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calumet-photographic
• Instagraminstagram.com/calumetphotode

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calumet Photographic Gmbh